Expanding hub



, 2 S11eetsSheet 2, L. P. VOLLRATH.

EXPANDING HUB. V

Patented May 17,1898.-

NORRIS Pmws co, moio-umu WASHINBTDH n c W u C \Wsv/I (No Model.)

i i i NITE STATES FFICE.

PATENT EXPANDING HUB.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 604,278, dated May 17, 1898. Application filed July 23, 1897. Serial No. 645,722. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS F. VOLLRATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expanding Hubs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in metallic vehicle-wheel hubs.

The object of the invention is to provide a hub of the character indicated which will readily receive and firmly hold the spokes of the wheel properly spaced apart, and a hub that permits of expansion of the wheel whenever it is necessary or desirable to tighten the tire.

The invention consists of a box screwthreaded on the outside, the rear portion of the box being tapered on the exterior, a sectional spoke-bracing ring screw-threaded on the inside adapted to engage the tapered portion of the box, clamping rings and nuts in cooperation with the box and spoke-ring, all combined and operating as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved hub. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the box detached. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end view of the spoke receiving and clamping rings. Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section of a spoke-bracing ring. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the sectional spoke-bracing ring, and Fig. 9 is an end view of the same.

A represents an axle-arm of a vehicle of usual construction, and B the axle-box. The axle-box has a central bore to receive the axle in the usual manner. This box is tapered on the outside at b and screw-threaded from the rear of the tapered portion to the forward end,

as clearly shown in Fig. 3. b is a nut formed integral with the box, and b is a screw-thread on the rear end of said box.

G is the spoke receiving and expanding ring, made in sections. I show this ring in the drawings as made of three sections; but of course it is obvious that it may be made in more or less sections, as found desirable. c are sockets formed in the periphery of said ring adapted to receive the inner ends of the spokes. The interior of the ring G is conical I and is provided with screw-threaded ribs 0',

which are adapted'to engage the screwthread on the tapered portion 5 of the box.

c are collars which fit snugly against the expanding-ring O. c is another ring which fits snugly around the collars, as clearly seen in Fig. 2. This ring is provided with an annular groove 0 D is an annular groove in the end of the box B.

d is a nut having an interior screw-thread adapted to engage the thread on the end of the axle-arm. d is an annular rim depending from said nut and adapted to engage the annular groove D.

E is a cap-nut provided with interior screwthreads which are adapted to engage the threads on the outer end of the box.

F is the forward outside cap of the hub, provided on the inside with an annular rib f, screw-threaded on its face, said threads adapted to engage with the threads of the box. f is a shoulder formed inside the cap adapted to bear against the collar 0 F is the rear hub-cap, provided with a shoulder f similar to the shoulder f in the forward cap.

f is an annular rib screw-threaded on its face, said thread being adapted to engage with the thread 19 on the rear of the box. The inner edges of the hub-caps F and F are provided with an annular lug f which enters the groove 0 in the ring a as seen in Fig. 2.

G is a set-screw passing through the rear hub-cap and engaging the box 13.

As will be seen from the drawings, the inner end of the spoke is placed in the socket c. The collars c are then placed over spoke-receiving ring 0, and the shoulders of said ring bear against the sides of the spokes. To further brace the spokes, I employ the bracingring 0 To tighten up the wheel when the tire becomes loose, the rear hub-cap F is detached and a wrench applied to the nut 19 on the box B. In turning the box the ring 0 is expanded by reason of the tapered portion b, whereby the spokes are forced outward from the center, thus tightening the entire wheel within the tire. After the wheel is sufficiently tightened the cap F is replaced and the cap-nut E screwed onto the forward end of the box until it jambs against the rib f, thereby holding the parts in position.

What I claim is- 1. In a wheel, a spindle-box screw-threaded on both ends, a central portion of said box larger than the main body and tapering toward the forward end of the same, said tapering portion being screw-threaded, a nut integral with the box and near the rear of the same, an expanding-ring provided on the interior with threads, and clamping-rings; all combined and operating substantially as described.

2. In a wheel, a spindle-box screw-threaded on both ends, a central portion of said box larger than the main body and tapering toward the forward end, screw-threads formed on said tapering portion, a nut formed integral with and near the rear of the box, an expanding-ring engaging said tapering portion, clamping-rings, and a forward and rear cap to cover the box, an annular rib on the inside of the forward cap having screw-threads in its face adapted to engage the threads on the box, a cap-nut screw-threaded on the inside and adapted to screw on the forward end of the box and jamb against the said rib,thereby locking the parts against movement.

3. In a wheel, a spindle-box screw-threaded on both ends, an enlarged tapering central portion also sorew-threaded, a nut integral with and near the rear of said box, an annular groove in the forward end of the same, a section-ring tapered and screw-threaded on the inside, spoke-sockets in the periphery of said ring, collars adapted to fit around and bear against the said ring, and a bracing-ring fitting around the periphery of said collars and provided with slots through which the spokes pass, the forward and rear hub-caps, an annular rib havingthreads in its face inside the forward cap adapted to engage the box, a cap-nut threaded on the inside, an annular rib having a screw-threaded face inside the rear cap; and a set-screw passing through 45 the rear cap and engaging the box.

LOUIS F. VOLLRATI-I. W ituesses:

J 0s. MENY, J. E. WEBB.

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